Constantinople (led by Kiya Tabassian) & Ablaye Cissoko – LP Estuaire out Feb 6, 2026 + European Tour

The Montreal-based ensemble Constantinople, led by Iranian composer and setar master Kiya Tabassian, and Senegalese griot Ablaye Cissoko released their third album together, “Estuaire”, on February 6, 2026, marking a new chapter in their long-standing collaboration.

Initiated in 2014, their encounter gave rise to a singular musical dialogue, where Manding poetry meets the Persian tradition of poet-musicians. Following Migratory Gardens (2015) and Crossings(2019), “Estuaire” extends this artistic journey, shaped by years of touring, encounters and a carefully developed collective writing process. Alongside Kiya Tabassian (setar, vocals) and Ablaye Cissoko (kora, vocals), the album also features Montreal-based percussionist Patrick Graham, a long-standing member of Constantinople.

On “Estuaire”the musicians weave a cycle of musical portraits inspired by real-life figures—Sokhna Si, Amadou, Baba, Nanfoulé... The result is an intentionally stripped-down acoustic approach, where Persian modes and Manding rhythmic cycles intertwine in the service of a luminous narrative. Each piece unfolds like a scene or a breath, paying tribute to these “quiet heroes” encountered along their travels. With « Estuaire », Constantinople, Kiya Tabassian and Ablaye Cissoko continue to shape one of the most distinctive collaborations in today’s transcontinental music landscape, bridging tradition, contemporary creation and the art of storytelling.

“Estuaire” LP – listening & download (release date: February 6, 2026)

Official video – single “Amadou” (embargoed until February 6, 2026)

European & International Tour 2026

• 21.02.26 – Concertgebouw, Bruges (Belgium)
• 22.02.26 – La Seine Musicale, Boulogne-Billancourt (France)
• 24.02.26 – Le Phare, Tourcoing (France)
• 26.02.26 – De Centrale, Ghent (Belgium)
• 28.02.26 – Altigone, Saint-Orens / Toulouse (France)

March – Tour in Colombia

April–May – North American tour

June – Tour in Japan and Malaysia

• 14.07.26 – Mainz (Germany)

October – North American tour

• 12.11.26 – Lyon (France)
• 15.11.26 – Kings Place, London (UK)
• 16.11.26 – Lantern Hall, Bristol (UK)

Kiya Tabassian is a composer, singer and master of the setar. Exiled from Iran with his family at the age of 14, he settled in Montreal, where he founded Constantinople in 2001. His work explores the dialogue between Persian traditions, Mediterranean music and contemporary composition, and has gained wide international recognition.

Ablaye Cissoko is a griot, singer and kora player, born in 1970 in Kolda, Senegal, into a renowned griot family. A bearer of the Manding tradition, he has developed an international career for over twenty years, bridging African music, jazz and global musical forms. Through his art of storytelling and transmission, he makes music a space for dialogue and connection.